Coast Guard, Good Samaritan rescue 4 from boat fire

MURRELLS INLET, SC (WCSC) - The Coast Guard and a good Samaritan rescued four people whose boat caught fire off the coast of Murrells Inlet, south of Myrtle Beach, Sunday.

The call came in around 11 a.m. from one of the four people aboard the vessel in distress stating the the boat had caught fire, but that the fire was out, according to officials. Shortly after, the same person called back stating the engine fire had relit.

In response to the report, the Coast Guard launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crew from the Coast Guard Air Facility Charleston, and a crew aboard a 45-foot response boat from Coast Guard Station Georgetown.

Officials say the crew of the Low Bid, a fishing boat in the area, responded to the calls of distress and rescued the four people who had fled to their life raft.

The four people were then taken to the Coast Guard response boat shortly after the boat crews arrived on scene. According to officials, the crew of the Low Bid informed the Coast Guard crew that one of the men was showing signs of hypothermia. That person was medevaced to a nearby hospital.

Officials say the remaining three people were taken to Murrells Inlet where local EMS was standing by.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

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